World Wetlands Day

Launching to coincide with World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2017;

The United Nations Environment (UNE) partner Green Earth Appeal are providing a clear-cut solution for plastic bottle companies to counterbalance the environmental impact from using plastic bottles. For the minimum effort, bottled water companies will benefit from the enhanced environmental credibility and improved brand awareness that Bottles for Trees creates.

Bottles for Trees are in the process of identifying founding partners who will champion this refreshing initiative.

What is World Wetlands Day?

World Wetlands Day (WWD) is the platform where we can highlight the values and benefits wetlands have to humanity and the planet.

Each year on the 2nd February, people, government agencies and non-governmental organisations around the globe come together and seize the opportunity to raise their voice on the future of one of the world’s most important ecosystems.

Why Wetlands?

For many countries, wetlands (places where water covers soil, such as Rice Fields) provide sources of food and water, transport links, sanitation and important nutrients for soils.

While forests are considered the lungs of the Earth, Wetlands can be referred to as “Earth’s kidneys”, absorbing harmful pollutants like Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen. Too much of these substances flowing through waterways can cause harmful algae to bloom, raise water temperatures and even kill fish and other animals.

With more people coming to recognise how important wetlands are, governments and communities are using WWD for a way to prioritise the protection, restoration and creation of wetlands.

Please remember this is a filtered down example; wetlands are a very complex subject and there is much more science and in-depth research on the subject than mentioned here.

What happens On World Wetlands Day?

Global countries organise many events that provide fun and interesting ways to highlight awareness and action points with respect to the world wetlands day.

Major events include lectures and seminars, nature walks specific to wetlands, art and photography contests for children and adults, community gatherings and beach clean-up days, interviews with high profile figures and most importantly the world will have their say on introducing new wetland policies.

One of the main attractions in recent years has been the WORLD WETLANDS DAY YOUTH PHOTO CONTEST, open to 15-24 year-olds.

Used as a learning tool, this competition brought hands-on experience for young people to visit and gain knowledge of wetlands and their important role in the global eco-system.

Throughout the many years that WWD has been supported, themes are used to represent and focus public attention on the different values that wetlands provide.

This year’s (2017) Theme is “Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction” – spreading the message that the world’s wetlands are crucial in helping millions of communities to be resilient enough to prepare for extreme weather, cope with natural disasters and bounce back from terrible incidents such as cyclones and typhoons.

Who helps with WWD?

In partnership with Evian Water and The Danone Group, The Ramsar Secretariat offer free to use materials such as posters, stickers, videos, pocket calendars, leaflets and information packs for everybody to spread the message about WWD and the crucial part Wetlands play in reducing global warming, feeding the world and keeping our planet clean and healthy.

Being one of the world’s leading brand of bottled water, Evian claims to work hard in protecting water resources.